The Prince Ascendant

Chapter Four: Wounds of the Heart

It had been a long eighteen months for the Saiyan Prince, Vegeta. Between his nearly four year-old son, a 2 year-old daughter, and his training, his days were very full. There was also the matter of young Sakura. The mind doctor had done everything in her power, but it had taken six months before she'd respond to anyone with more than one or two words. Four more months before she'd been able to hold a normal conversation, and it wasn't until a month ago that she'd finally become comfortable enough to start conversing on her own. Yesterday, however, had met with a somewhat unexpected, but welcome, surprise: Sakura ventured from her home with the Son family to see the other man who'd rescued her, Vegeta.

"Mr. Vegeta..." she began sheepishly, still unsure how to address a man she'd come to view as something between a favourite uncle and saviour. "You're really strong. Can you...can you teach me to become strong, too?"

Vegeta was visibly shocked at this. Deep down inside, he'd been expecting it, even somewhat looking forward to it, but he was unsure of whether or not she'd ever work up the courage to ask him. He shouldn't have doubted her. "I can, but it will not be easy," he replied. "You're a Saiyan, so there's little doubt that you have a lot of potential, but the path to power is never a simple one."

"I...I understand," she said, trying to keep her voice even. The man was kind, but firm and a little intimidating. "My...my family told stories about the legendary Super Saiyan, the warrior with incredible power that could bring entire worlds to their knees with his awesome power. That's...that's what you and Mr. Gohan are, aren't you?"

"The Super Saiyan is more than a legend," the Prince of All Saiyans stated in a serious, if gentle, tone. "It is a state any Saiyan can achieve, through the proper training and motivation. We all have a bit of that legend inside us."

She perked up at this, a mixture of shock and disbelief on her face as she processed the implications of his words. "Even me?" she asked in an awed tone.

"Even you." he said, a sudden question coming to his lips. "Why do you want to learn to fight?"

Vegeta's stomach churned a bit as he saw the face of a girl that was barely more than fourteen years-old gain a steely, hard look. "Lor-" she began, quickly correcting herself. "Arctic and his men. They...did things to me. For years. People like that aren't unique. Gohan told me of Arctic's nephew, Frieza." her eyes lit up with rage, her normally soft voice turning into a growl of fury. "They make others suffer. I WILL NOT LET THAT HAPPEN! MONSTERS LIKE THAT MUST BE MADE TO PAY!"

The Prince stood astounded, this was the most emotion he'd seen her ever display. What's more, as she spoke, he felt her power surging. Without even realizing it, she'd already learned how to let her ki skyrocket, she already held the secret to the Saiyan's true power in her heart. He walked over to the young girl, placing a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. It wouldn't do to have her wreck a part of his home other than the gravity chamber; Bulma would never forgive him.

He gave her a wan smile, saying, "Calm down, Sakura. I'll teach you."

"You will?" she said, her ki diminishing.

"I will." Vegeta replied evenly. "You have more than enough motivation. However, if you ever feel like its too much, tell me."

"I promise, Mr. Vegeta!" Sakura said happily.

So, Vegeta gained a new student. Kakarot's son and even his friends all came around to help her train, teaching the young girl various techniques and offering guidance where she needed it. Over the next four months, Sakura had proved to be a quick learner. Her ki control needed a fair amount of work, but she was gaining power quickly. She even sparred with Trunks during the last few weeks, as Vegeta brought him in on training shortly after his fourth birthday. Between her martial training and her regular sessions with her therapist, she was coming more into her own. A natural fire began showing itself, the Saiyan's desire to grow ever stronger. The times she stayed overnight, though, had shown just how much work was left. Both Vegeta and Bulma had awoken during the night to her screaming in her sleep as night terrors tore through her dreams like rabid wolves through a fresh kill. They'd had to replace several pieces of furniture in her room when her ki would rage out of control...those were the nights when she'd scream about killing the men who tormented her.

Both of them, and even Trunks a time or two, were there to comfort her after nights like that. Her embarrassment was obvious, but it was also plain that she was grateful to have people there to help her, now. Though they were becoming less frequent as her training went on, the violent nightmares also showcased just how much latent power she had hidden away. She might not have as much raw potential as Gohan, but she was close, and her drive was incredibly strong. Vegeta had even caught her in the training room a time or two after she'd had a nightmare, pushing herself at nearly twice the gravity Vegeta was using during their training sessions.

It was during one such late-night session that Vegeta awoke to the feeling of a gigantic ki. He rushed to the gravity chamber to see Sakura, her long ponytail standing on end as her aura turned gold. Vegeta stood in awe as he felt her power climb, she was doing it all on her own. She understood what she'd needed all along, and she was striving against all the pain she'd suffered to push herself to the absolute limit. As her yells reached a fever pitch, the Prince of All Saiyans felt the young girl's power peak and watched, his mouth agape, as her hair turned gold and her eyes changed colour.

"Vegeta! What's going on?" he heard from behind him, in a worried tone. It was Bulma. She'd been awakened by the violent shaking he was now feeling in the floor.

"See for yourself," he said, pointing at the monitor.

"Is that S-Sakura? I-I-Is she a-?" Bulma stammered out, awestruck by what she was witnessing. "Is she a Super Saiyan?!"

"She is," Vegeta said, a proud smile on his face. "She's definitely earned it. Do you see how high she has the gravity set?"

Bulma looked confused, then started as she saw the indicator on the bottom left of the screen. "She's working at 1,000 times Earth's gravity?!"

Vegeta nodded. "Those nights she can't sleep, she ends up training in here. We're only up to 400 times, but when she's here alone..." his voice trailed off for a moment, still a tad dumbstruck at how far his student was pushing herself. "She sets the gravity much higher than what we train at."

The duo watched the young girl on the monitor as she continued her training, seeing how far she could push her Super Saiyan state. The look of satisfaction on her face as she threw a lightning fast punch filled Vegeta with a warm glow inside. That morning, Bulma prepared a breakfast of truly epic proportions in celebration of Sakura's accomplishment. She was a bit sheepish at being caught out, but the small, happy smile on her face belied her true feelings. They weren't angry at her for training alone, her mentor wasn't mad for achieving the form outside their training. Quite the opposite, it was almost as if he regarded her as an equal now and the pride on his face warmed her heart. Little Trunks' astonishment at the news brought another smile to her face, which redoubled when he vowed to be just as strong as she was, one day.

Her achievement also had another positive side-effect: Sakura's self-confidence increased dramatically. However, Vegeta quickly noticed an issue when she was in her Super Saiyan state, she had trouble controlling the vicious feelings that the state brought to surface. He'd suffered more split lips and bruises, even the occasional broken rib, in the first week of training her in her new form than he'd had in the first six months of training with Gohan. Yes, she was definitely powerful, but she was still a work in progress, that much was obvious. However, even her Super Saiyan viciousness disappeared when she sparred with Trunks, she obviously had a soft spot for the boy that no amount of pain could overtake.

His son was also coming into his own as a warrior at a rather astounding rate. He was still a child, and had a tendency to horse around during training, but he was far, far stronger than Vegeta had been at his age. Trunks treated Sakura like an older sister, alternating between cajoling her when they sparred and admiring the haunted older girl's drive to become as strong as she possibly could. The Prince of All Saiyans, however, had a hidden reason for stoking the girl's natural Saiyan fire. In her eyes, he saw the many victims of his time as a slave to Frieza and his own arrogant selfishness. He saw the people he'd wronged, the planets he'd destroy, the lives he'd helped maim, and it hurt. In one little girl, he saw the repercussions his dark past, and an ember of shame burned within his soul.

That shame, however, turned into an even stronger drive to better himself. Though he may never be able to right all the wrongs he'd done, he could at least atone for some of his sins by working to better himself as a person, and keeping the planet he called home safe. He swore to do his victims' memories justice and become the best man he could possibly become. The girl may never know, but she, too, had helped save the soul of a man who'd once been nearly as much of a monster as the man who'd enslaved her.

She even looked better. When they'd rescued her, she looked like a stiff wind would break her bones. Her wasted frame and sallow skin seemed, in a horrible way, to compliment the tattered rags she'd been wearing, rags that had a stale, yet heady reek to them. No longer was she covered in a thin, yet stubborn layer of dirt. Her ragged nails were cleaned and trimmed, and her hair looked freshly washed and cared-for. As they trained, Vegeta ruminated over the changes his charge had undergone, and he was pleased with her progress. Sakura was looking less like a soulless husk and more like a proper young woman, albeit a somewhat grim-faced young woman. It was amazing what two years, a good diet, and therapy could do for a person. Even though she was still obviously recovering, she was a far cry from the mute, hollow shell she'd once been.

"I think that's enough for today," the Prince said, holding a hand up and panting a little.

"Aww, but daaaaaaaad!" Trunks cried out plaintively.

"No buts, young man," Vegeta said sternly. "You're out of breath and you look like you've been hit by a train. The same goes for you, Sakura." he said, nodding toward the girl as she steadied her breathing. "You've both done well, today, though. Trunks, why don't you go ahead of us and clean off? I need a moment to speak with Sakura."

Sensing that his father wouldn't put up with any pouting, Trunks glumly walked off in search of his bathroom so he could clean off before dinner.

Sakura looked up at her mentor with a questioning look on her face. "What did you want to talk to me about, Mr. Vegeta?" she asked.

Vegeta walked over to the young woman and said, "I know you've heard this before, but you need to work harder on keeping your anger in check when you're transformed."

She looked downcast at this, replying in a small voice, "I know, Mr. Vegeta, but its hard. Part of me remembers what I went through and I just..." she trailed off.

"I know," the Saiyan Prince said, placing a hand gently on her shoulder to reassure his student. "I know it still hurts, Sakura. That hurt is useful, but you're letting it own you. Your pain is yours to use, not the other way around. The better you are at mastering your pain, the less likely you are to make a mistake when using it as your weapon."

Sakura looked up at her mentor, respect and understanding in her eyes. "I'll keep that in mind, Mr. Vegeta," she said. "I'll keep working on it, I promise."

Vegeta let out a short laugh. "Hmph, of that, I have little doubt." he replied, easing both of them past a somewhat sensitive topic. "We should both get cleaned up, I suppose. Bulma hates it when we come to dinner reeking of sweat."

Sakura giggled a bit at that. It was a small thing, but it was good to hear her acting more like a normal girl her age. After a massive dinner, the Briefs family bade farewell to Sakura as she flew off toward the Son household. Vegeta knew Chi Chi would be a little put out that Sakura had eaten there instead of at her new home, but he knew that, in the end, it was a good thing, a gesture that helped prove to the pained young woman that she was welcome in the homes of both her saviours.

After some work, mostly involving maths that the Prince knew was one of his wife's many strongsuits, they'd managed to pin down Sakura's birthday on the Earth calendar and, to their surprise, it was on 12 May, or just over ten weeks. Though fifteen wasn't a landmark birthday in either Earth or Saiyan culture, they both understood that the date held special significance in and of itself as it'd be the girl's first birthday celebration since being freed from Arctic; they hadn't celebrated the last one due to many factors, not the least of which being the girl's own lack of readiness for such a thing. However, when they'd asked her if she'd like anything for her birthday, she broke down in tears.

"If its too much-" Bulma began apologetically, thinking she'd accidentally dredged up unpleasant memories from the girl's past.

"Its not that, Mrs. Briefs," Sakura said, a smile creeping up on her face. "Its just...this is the first time I've had a birthday I've wanted to celebrate since...since my parents..."

Bulma drew the sobbing girl into her arms and Vegeta placed a hand on her shoulder. "You won't insult us by saying no, Sakura," he said in a quiet voice.

"I want it!" she said after a few moments, attempting to gather herself. "I just...don't know what I want, is all. I haven't given it any thought in...years..."

"We'll take care of it, dear," Bulma said in a comforting tone. "Just tell us some of the things you like, and who you'd want to be there, and Vegeta and I will handle the rest. Won't we, darling?" the last bit was said with a furtive glance toward her husband.

"We will, you have my word," Vegeta said simply.

The party that followed was a happy affair at the Briefs home. Kakarot's family and friends were there, even the normally stoic Piccolo had a small smile on his face the entire time. Chi Chi had given the girl a set a flowery dresses like her own, saying that every girl should have a nice dress to wear around the house. Dende gave her a small jade statue carved in the shape of the Eternal Dragon. Gohan gave her a weighted training gi; a simple, purple garb with white underclothes. Knowing the girl admired Bulma and her intellect, the Briefs family built her a portable study tablet with subjects ranging from writing to quantum dynamics. Between the food, friends, and gifts, the young woman was smiling broadly and teary-eyed, elated to find that she'd met so many nice people...people that not only rescued her, but had gradually taught her what it was to truly live.

Vegeta reflected as the festivities died down, the last party-goers excusing themselves so they could return home. In this young woman, in Sakura, he saw the visage of all the victims he'd had during his younger days. All the pain and suffering he'd caused in others were reflected brutally by her vicious nightmares. But, after the past few weeks, he'd also seen how people can heal, and how he could better himself further, by helping in that process. He might not be able to do anything for those he'd killed, but he could aid this girl and ensure that she became as strong as she could be. Maybe, if they were lucky, she'd pass along the kindness she'd been given to others, and they'd do the same. After all, what's the point in being able to save an entire planet if you aren't willing to do the same for a single girl?

Author's Notes

Annnnnd, here's chapter four, peoples! Again, mea culpa for this taking longer than the others. This week and part of next are finals week for me, so I've got some preparations that need to take place so I don't bomb my last, and likely most important, tests. I'm also planning a small vacation before summer classes begin to visit my family, so my writing might be slowed down for the next few weeks until things quiet down. However, this story ain't gonna die, I promise you that. Real life can be a damned inconvenience, no?

Once more, a big thank you goes out to all the people who've viewed, favourited, followed, and reviewed my story thus far. Few things are more satisfying than knowing that your work is enjoyed by others. Also, a special shout-out goes to Coola Than You of the Dragon Ball Multiverse comments section for offering to do some artwork pro bono for my story! I honestly can't put into words how bowled over that has me still. You guys are the best! Hagunemnon out!